Jammu Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah | | Photo: PTI Jammu Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah | | Photo: PTI In Jammu and Kashmir, political parties across the political divide have expressed opposition to One Nation, One Election (ONOE), calling it an assault on federalism. Parties like the ruling National Conference (NC), the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP), and the CPIM have linked the idea to the abrogation of Article 370, claiming it is part of the BJP’s broader agenda to centralize power and push the ONOE framework.
These parties argue that the decision that led to the revocation of J&K's special status in 2019 aligns with the same ideology driving the push for ONOE, which they believe undermines the country's federal structure and diversity. They say the revocation of Article 370 was a blow, and ONOE risks erasing what little remains of J&K's political voice.
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“We believe that ONOE is an attempt to break the federal system in the country,” National Conference spokesman Imran Nabi Dar said. “Already our Member Parliament Mian Altaf has spoken on the issue and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has also given a statement on the issue,” he said.
Earlier Chief Minister Omar Abdullah insisted that there should be an open and transparent debate on the 'One Nation-One Election' bill, in the parliament.
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"It should be discussed in the House, and the discussion must be transparent; it shouldn’t resemble what transpired with Article 370 in 2019 when the token debate was carried out on the subject,” he added.
He said that the NC will hold internal consultations to form a collective stance on the issue, before advising its MPs on how to vote during the parliamentary discussion.
The CPIM leader M.Y. Tarigami criticized the concept of One Nation, One Election (ONOE), calling it detrimental to the country's unity and federal structure. He argued that ONOE would undermine India's diversity and federal principles.
Referring to August 5, 2019, when Jammu and Kashmir's special status was revoked and the state was downgraded to a Union Territory, Tarigami said it was done under a similar approach -pushing for elections centered on a single issue and agenda.
“Ours is a federal structure, and One Nation, One Election goes against that very foundation,” he said.
rakin bacon slot machineThe Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says the ONOE proposal is not just an administrative shift; it directly threatens the political, cultural, and legal identity of Jammu and Kashmir.
“Our region has long fought for its distinct voice and identity. The revocation of Article 370 was a blow, and ONOE risks erasing what little remains of our political voice,” says the PDP legislator Waheed Parra.
“At the heart of the issue is the erosion of regional autonomy across India. Jammu and Kashmir has unique issues-like restoration of Articles 370 and 35A, the rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits, land rights-that cannot be lumped into national debates,” Parra said.
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“These concerns will be lost in the national political noise, leaving us with no room to address our specific needs. ONOE threatens to silence our voices, allowing national issues to dominate and undermining our region’s distinctiveness,” Parra said.
“Our regional parties, are crucial in representing the needs of our people. With ONOE, their voices will be drowned out by the resources of national parties that have little interest in our issues. The rehabilitation of displaced persons, tribal rights, and local governance concerns will become secondary. Jammu and Kashmir is a region of diverse political and cultural identities. Both Jammu and Kashmir have different needs and priorities,” Parra said.
The PDP leader said holding state and national elections together would only deepen divisions. “National policies often fail to reflect our realities, and ONOE would exacerbate this gap, leading to governance challenges and policy deadlocks. Our region’s complex geography, security issues, and administrative strains make it difficult enough to hold elections under normal circumstances,” he added.
“Managing both state and national elections would stretch resources thinroyal888, leading to delays, disenfranchisement, and potential electoral errors. Finally, the legal complications of ONOE are substantial. The revocation of Article 370 and subsequent reorganization have left unresolved legal questions. Introducing synchronized elections in this volatile environment would further complicate constitutional questions. For Jammu and Kashmir, One Nation, One Election represents disempowerment to our identity, political autonomy, and future. This is not the reform we need. We need policies that respect our unique challenges and preserve our local governance,” he added.